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Participation in a community-based food cooperative improves self-reported food security status and dietary intake in a large sample of Australian adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2025

K. Kent ,
C. Brooks ,
T. Attuquayefio ,
N. Morrison ,
A. Ewald ,
G. Alhassani ,
R. Khosa ,
J. Wu  and
F. MacMillan
K. Kent
Affiliation:
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
C. Brooks
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Diabetes Obesity Metabolism Translational Research Unit, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
T. Attuquayefio
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
N. Morrison
Affiliation:
Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
A. Ewald
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
G. Alhassani
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
R. Khosa
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
J. Wu
Affiliation:
School of Population Health and The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
F. MacMillan
Affiliation:
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Diabetes Obesity Metabolism Translational Research Unit, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Office of Research, Enterprise and International, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract

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A growing number of Australians are experiencing challenges accessing and affording healthy food due to climate-related disasters, global supply chain disruptions, and rapid inflation that is affecting the cost of healthy food(1). There is limited understanding of how participation community-based food cooperatives can address these challenges and improve food security and dietary intake. This study investigated the motivations for joining and impact of participation in a community-based food cooperative called Box Divvy on self-reported food security status and intake of fruits and vegetables among a sample of Australian adults. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Box Divvy members, that measured sociodemographic characteristics, motivations for joining, self-reported fruit and vegetable intake (serves/week), and food insecurity status (USDA 6-item short form(2)) before and while using Box Divvy. Participants were classified as being food secure, or experiencing marginal, moderate, or severe food insecurity. Logistic regression assessed demographic predictors and self-reported change in food security status, and ANOVA examined changes in dietary intake before joining and while using Box Divvy. Of participants (n = 2764, 37% aged 35–44 years, 83% European ethnicity, 92% New South Wales residents), most joined Box Divvy to support local farmers (87.3%), and save money on healthy foods (70.6%). Around half of respondents (50.8%) reported experiencing food insecurity before joining Box Divvy (24.5% marginal, 18.4% moderate, 7.9% severe food insecurity). Univariate logistic regression identified age, household structure, and income as significant predictors of food insecurity (p < 0.001). Participants experiencing food insecurity reported significantly lower consumption of fruits and vegetables prior to joining Box Divvy compared to those who were food secure (p < 0.001). While using Box Divvy, 28.2% of participants reported experiencing food insecurity (16.6% marginal, 9.6% moderate, 2.1% severe food insecurity). The odds of food insecurity while using Box Divvy were 62% lower than before joining (OR: 0.38; 95% CI 0.34–0.43; p < 0.001). On average, participants reported their fruit intake increased by 2.5 ± 5.6 serves/week (p < 0.001), and vegetable intake increased by 3.3 ± 5.7 serves/week (p < 0.001). The mean increase was significantly greater among moderately food insecure (fruit mean difference 3.2 ± 6.5 serves/week; vegetable mean difference 3.9 ± 6.9 serves/week) and severely food insecure groups (fruit mean difference 4.4 ± 6.9 serves/week; vegetable mean difference 5.5 ± 7.7 serves/week; p < 0.001). Participation in Box Divvy significantly improved self-reported food security status and fruit and vegetable intake among a large sample of Australian adults. Notably, fruit and vegetable intake significantly increased among those experiencing moderate and severe food insecurity. This underscores the potential of community-based food cooperatives to improve food security and promote healthier eating habits among Australian adults, especially households experiencing food insecurity.

Type
Abstract
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 84 , Issue OCE1: The 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 3-6 December 2024 , April 2025 , E46
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

References

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